Israeli’s brightest math students have restored the country’s positive image at the annual Math Olympiad and won one gold and four bronze medals.

Israel jumped from last year’s 53rd ranking to number 23, out of 101 countries. In 2000, Israel enjoyed the 11th spot, and the decline in recent years caused some panic in the Education Ministry, which was concerned that Israelis children are learning less than they did in the past.

All of the medallion winners were from urban centers – two from Haifa, and one each from Ra’anana, Holon and Ramat Gan, three cities that are part of metropolitan Tel Aviv.

This year’s achievement brought to 11 the number of gold medals Israeli students have won since first participating in the annual Olympiad. They also have won a total of 81 bronze medals and 33 silver medals.

Since first taking part in the games, Israel has had 11 gold medalists, 33 silver medalists and 81 bronze medalists.